FOXBOROUGH – No matter which whisper you choose to listen to, as of Wednesday, Rob Gronkowski has no better than a 50 percent chance of playing this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But that doesn’t mean he isn’t getting closer. Last week, the New England Patriots tight end was listed as doubtful on the final injury report heading into Thursday’s win over the Jets, which meant that he had, at best, a 25 percent chance of stepping on the field. Fifty is more than 25, and as they say, more is better than less.

Gronkowski agrees with that assessment.

“Oh, big-time, definitely,” Gronkowski said when asked if he’s progressed since last week. “Just progressing every single week. I’ve progressed significantly since last week. That’s all I can ask for, and that’s all the coaches are asking for, and the training staff.”

Gronkowski is currently recovering from offseason forearm and back surgeries and has been on the practice field for the last three weeks. He’s moved well during the practices and has recently begun finishing the sessions.

While it remains possible that he will step on the field this week to help improve a passing offense that has struggled to gain its footing, he refused to make projections about his eventual return to game action.

“I’m ready to go for what’s presented to me for that day, what I can do for that day,” Gronkowski said. “What I can do that day, I’m going to do to the max of my ability and just, basically, progressing. Progressing everyday and that’s all I got.”